Improvement in railway time-signals



4 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. C. PAIGE.

RAILWAY TIME-SIGNAL.

Patented Aug. 15, 1876.

O im 5...@

N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHUGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. C. PAIGE.

RAILWAY TIME-SIGNAL.

Patented Aug.15,1875.

luz/anw.

4 Sheets-She et 3.

J. C. PAIGE.

RAILWAY TIME-Sismi..

Patented Aug.15,1876.

N1PEERS. PHOTO-LITNOGRAFMER, WASHINGTON, D L.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. C. PAIGE.

RAILWAY TIME-SIGNAL.

Patented Aug.15, 1876.

linfa/Zan N.PEERS. PHOTO-IJMOGHAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C,

, italiani-STATES PATENT FFIC'E;

JOHN C. FAIGE, OF STONEHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY TIME-SIGNALS.

Specification formig part of Letters Patent No. I8 l,098, dated August 15, 1876; application tiled November 22, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. PAIGE, of Stoneham, in the county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Railway Time-Signal ,and I do hereby declare thatA the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of this invention is to inform the engineerof an approaching train whether or not a sufficient time has elapsed since the passage of the preceding \train to allow him to proceed with safety; and it consists mainly, iirst, in the combination, with proper actuating mechanism operated by a passing train, and proper indicating mechanism to give the signals, of a piston and dash-pot, for determining the length of time that the warningsignalsshall be exposed; second, in the peculiar construction ofthe signals employed and the mechanism for operating` them; tnird, in the combination, with the rail, ot" a watertight t'ulcrum-box and certain actuating` mechanism. lt further consists in certain details of construction, all of which will be fully de scribed hereinafter.

` ln the drawings, Figure l represen ts a front elevation, partially'n section, of the entire signaling apparatus; Figs. 2 and 3, sectional elevations upon thc line a; a', Fig. 4, of-the primary actuating mechanism secured to the rail; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the hack rail and its connections: Fig. 5, views of the clamping-iron which holds the vertically-moving bar B iu place;.l"ig. 6, a partial sectional elevation upon the line y y, Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a front elevation of 'the special mechanism for actuating the signals; Fig. 8, a sectional elevation of thedash-pot and its connections; Fig. 9,".1I front elevation of the releasing-lever and its connections; Fig. l07 a 'trau'sverse sectional view of the dash-pot and the adjusting mechanism for regulating its descent; Fig. 11, a front elevation ot' the sectional signaldisks and'tlieir immediate connections; Fig. 12, a plan view ot' the mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

'lo enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe fully its construction and manner of operation.

For convenience of description the parts of my invention will be referred to under three different heads, as follows: first, that portion connected with the track-rail, which will be termed the primary actuating mechanism second, the dashpot and its connections, which Will be termed the time-controlling mechanism; and, third, the remaining parts, which will be termed the indicating or signaling mechanism.7

1. The primary actuating mecham'sm.-A, Figs. 1 2, and 3, represents the track-rail supported by and secured to sleepers in the usual well-known manner. B represents a long bar, having its upper face inclined l'rom the ends to the center, and provided at each end with a recess, b, as shown in Fig. 4. C C, Figs. 4 and 5, represent rightangled irons of peculiar conformation secured to the rail at the proper points by means of the clamping-irons c and bolts c1, as shown, which are provided with recesses c2, adapted to secure the projecting ends of the bar B, and. permit them to move freely in a vertical direction without danger ot' disengagement or `displacement. c3 c3 represent rubber blocks held in proper recesses in the irons C, beneath the ends ofthe bar B, by means of which the latter is supported in its raised position, excepting when depressed by a passing train.

D, Figs. 1,2, and 3, represents a Water-tight fulcrum-box, constructed of suitable material and proper size, and provided with overhanging ears d d, Fig. 6, by means of which and the clamping-iron al and bolt d2 it is securely clamped to thefoot of the rail, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. d4, Fig. 6, represents an extension, which projects upward parallel to the side of bar B, and bears closely against the same, as shown. d5, Figs. 2 and 3, represents a hand-hole cover, by removing which the interior of the box is made accessible, when desired. d6 d6 represent rubber blocks, resting upon the ears d a of the fulcrum-box D, and beneath the bar B, as shown in Fig. 6, which` serves, in connection with the similar blocks c3 c3, to furnish a yielding support for the bar. E represents a plunger, held in suitable bearings in the fulcrum-box, and provided with a right-angled arm, e, extending beneath the bar B, as shown. e' represents a spring, of suitable construction and arrangement, which may be employed, if desired, to return the plunger to its normal position after being depressed bythe bar B. F represents a bell crank lever, pivoted at f, the horizontal arm of which bears against the toot of the plunger, as shown, its` vertical arm being united, by means ot' the connecting-rod f', to the vertical arm g, Fig. 1, ofthe bell-crank lever G in the pillar H, as shown. The horizontal arm g1 ot' the lever G is united, by means ofthe connecting-rod g2, Fig. 7, to the frame g3, as shown, the latter being adapted to move freely' ina vertical direction when properly actuated, as will be hereinafter described.

2. The time-controlling mechanism, consisting of the dash-pot and its immediate conncctions.- 1, Figs. 7 and represents a cylindrical cast ing, suitably supported in place by any proper means, which forms the chamber inc-losing the dash-pot, the same being closed at its ends, but provided above with a central orice for the passage ofthe dash-pot piston, as shown. ,Fig. 7a, represents slots in the ange, hy means of which the vertically-moving frame gssis guided in its movement. J, Fig. 8, represents the dash-pot proper, which is centrally located in the inclosing-chamber with an intervening space, j, between the walls, and supported below by the perforated flange jl, as shown. jz j2 represent valve-openings, located in its bottom plate, which, in connection with the perforated angejl, afford communi cation, at the proper time, with the intervening space between the walls. K represents a valve, controlling the openings, and k a valveguard.' L represents the piston, ot' any suitable construction, and l the piston-rod, which projects .through the central opening in the casting I, and is secured to the verticallymoving frame g3, as shown. M, Fig. 10, represents an opening made in the side ot' the dashpot,.below the piston. m represents a cylindrical block, fitted into the opening M, which has a central orifice provided with screw-threads at its outer end, and made conical in form at the other, as shown. lt is provided, moreover,

- with a side-delivery opening, ml, by means ot' which communication is made with the inter- Venlng space j.

an represents an adjusting-screw extending through the outer wall, and made tight therein by proper packing, which is adapted by the threaded portion m3 to be screwed in and out of the block M, and by means ot' a coni- Cal point to regulate the flow ot' fluid from the dash-pot into the intervening space between the walls.

3. The indicating or signaling mechanism.- N, Figs. 7, 8, and 11, represents a horizontal pivot-stud rigidly fixed to the front of casting I, as shown. n n represent lever-blocks, of similar construction, pivoted to the stud N, and, each provided above with a lever-rod, nl,

carrying a semicircular signal-disk, Fig. 11, preferably of red color.

These lever-blocks are of peculiar construction, resembling somewhat in their lnanner ot' operation a glovestretcher, their movements upon the pivot in either direction being limited to certain xed and definite points.

n2 n2 represent fixed pins projecting in a horizontal direction from the face of the long arm of the .lever-blocks, as shown. O, Fig. 12, represents a semicircular band or metallic strip attached to the vertically-moving frame g3, as shown. o o, Figs: 7 and 8, represent vertical standards, secured to the front ofthe band O by the pivots o1 ol, and securely held in proper vertical positionrbymhe socket o2 and the intermediate spring or springs o3. These standards are bent and curved routward near their upper ends slightly, zfor the purpose ot' enlarging the'space betyveenthem, as shown.

'lhe mechanism just described is adapted, when the vertically-movingfframeis raised by the primary actuatinginechanism, to move the lever-blocks into properposition to bring together the semicircular signal-disks, and expose them as a complete signal at the proper opening in the signa1pill`ar, this result being accomplished by theupward-,movement of the standards o owhich,by1meansof the curved or bent parts, draw together'the pins n2 n2, as indicated in Fig. 11.

The mechanism for throwingback the si gnaldisks at the proper time will now be described.

o4, Figs. 7, 9, and 12, represents a standard rising from the band Oat the proper point, which is provided with the adjustable collar o5, as shown. P represents a lever pivoted at :l: to the end of the short arm of one of the lever-blocks n, the end of th-e long arm of which lever P projectswhen the lever-blocks are in their closed position beneath the adjustable colla-r o5 ot' the standard o4, as shown in Fig. 7. The short arm ot" this' lever is provided with a recess, p, Fig. V9, adapted when in proper position to lit, over-1a pin, n3, attached to the end of the short arm'of, the other leverblock, and lhas also .a weighted end, pl, as Shown, to insure its dropping `onto pin n3 when in position. p2 represents a spring wire or rod attached at one end tothele'ver P, near its center, which is extended beyond the recess p in the short arm,.andlbentin a d'ownward and backward directionfabout, the recess in such a manner that its free end forms an inclined plane, as shown.

By means ot' this construction lit follows that when the verticallymoving frame descends, the long arm ot' levend? is also caused to descend by cont,act5vithfthe adjustable collar 05, by Which'meanssthe'lever'blocks n are operated to throw backl the signal-disks in the following manner:

When the frame giisrais'ed, the position of the lever P, relative to the lever-blocks n, is as shown in Fig-7, it being in a horizontal position pivoted-tozonelof the short arms ot' the lever-blocks a, and having its recess over the pins n3 of the other, the spring p2 partially inclosing, also, this same pin.

Now, when the long end of lever P is de' pressed by the downward movement of the collar o5, its' short or recessed end is raised from olf the piu a3, and being pressed by the inclined part of the spring p2 bearing against it, as shown in Fig. 9, the two semicireular disks at the top of the signal-rods are given a sudden inclination outward, and are allowed to fall back out of the line of vision.

In connection with the foregoing mechanism for actuating what I term the stop signal, certain auxiliary mechanism for actuating what I' term the cautionary signal may be employed, this being displayed for any desired length of time after the stop-signal has been withdrawn.

q q, Figs. 7, 9, and 11, represent pivot studs projecting from the casting-I, as shown. q1 q1 represent signal-rods carrying semieircular signal-disks, Fig. 1l, preferably of green color, which are pivoted at their lever ends to the studs 'q q, as shown. q2 q2 represent pins projecting in a horizontal direction from the face of the rods, as shown. g3, Figs. 7, 9, and 12, represents a rod or plate, (secured to the castin g,) which is provided with bent ends adapted in form and position to limit the outward movement of the signal-rods. Q4 g4 represent catch-bars of identical construction, pivoted at their inner ends to the ends of the short arm ofthe lever-blocks n, and provided upon the lower sides with recesses g5 g5, and at their inner ends with hooks or catches q Q6, as shown. q" q represent spring wires or rods attached at their inner elids to the inner ends of the bars g4, which, extending'outward be-` low the lower surface of these4 bars, are bent at-their ends into a V shape, as shown. By means of this construction it follows that when the leverblocks are moved into position to display the stop-signal, the catch-bars resting on the pins q2 are moved in an outward direction by the corresponding movement ofthe short arms of the'lever-blocks to which they are attached, until the recesses q5 engage with the pins q2, by which means connection is made with the signal rods ql. When, therefore, the catch-bars are drawn in again bythe corresponding movement of the short arms of the lever-blocks a, which takes place when the stop-signal is thrown out of position, the rods of the cautionary signal are properly moved to unite the semicircular disks and expose them at the central opening in the signal-pillar. This signal in its turn is moved out of position by the following mechanism. 1t, Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 9, represents a rod adapted to move vertically in proper bearings upon the casting I, which is provided above with the conical head fr, and shoulder r1, and below with the adjustable collar r2.

r3 represents a coiled spring surrounding the same between the shoulder rl and the iixed flange 1A upon the casting, as shown. rf' represents an ear upon the inner side of the band O, which has a proper opening through which extends the rod R. as shown in Fig. 8.

By means of this construction it follows that when the verticallymoving frame is raised the rod R, which has been depressed, is also raised by the reaction of the spring r3 into such a position that when the short arms of the lever-blocks a are brought together by the descent of the frame g3, for the purpose of throwing the stop-signal out of position, as before described, the hooks qs of the catchbars are brought beneath its conical head, as shown in Fig. 9 and 9a. The parts remain iu this position until a further movement of the frame, as indicated iu Fig. 9, causes the ear T5, Fig. 8, to collie in contact with the adjustable collars r2, so that the rod R is depressed against the force of spring r3, and the catch-bars are consequently tilted upon their pivots.

In consequence of the movement of the catch-bars the recesses are disengaged from the pins q2 of the signal-rods, and the latter are allowed to fall backward, assisted by the pressure ofthe inclined face of the springs Q7, as shown. The springs p2 and q7 q7 fulfill the double office of insuring the hooking on of the lever P and catch-bars g4 g4, when brought into position, and of giving the signaldisks a sudden start backward at the instant the pins a3 and q2 Q7 are disengaged from the recesses in the lever P and catch-bars q4 g4.

The general operation of this invention is as follows: Whenever a train passes the signal the bar B is necessarily depressed by the passing wheels, and consequently movement is given by means of the plunger F, and the intermediate lever-connections to the vertically-movingframe gf. Thelatter, being raised, lifts also,A by means of the connecting-rod l, the piston in the dash pot, and, consequently, the iiuid in the intervening space J is drawn in through the perforated tlange jl and valveopenings jz into the dash-pot below the piston.

It is obvious now that the piston cannot descend until the fluid below is displaced, and as this has no outlet, excepting through the opening M, it follows that by adjusting the size of this opening in the manner described, that the amount of the iiuid can be regulated, and consequently also the rapidity of the descent of the piston.

By the descent of the piston, and the attached frame, which acts as an impelling or actuating weight, the signal mechanism is attaehed to throw the signals out of position; hence, it follows that the length of time that a signal will remain exposed depends mainly upon the rate of the movement of the piston in the dash-pot, which may be easily regulated by means of the adjusting screw m2 to suit the necessities of the case.

When the vertically-moving fralne is raised the rods of the stop-signal are drawn together by the upward movement of the standards o o, for the purpose of uniting the sections of the signal and exposing it at the proper opening. This remains exposed until the downward movement of the piston, and the attached frame actuates the releasing-lever P in the manner before described. The same movement which throws out ot' position the stopsignal brings into position the cautionaryr signal, in the mannerbefore described in detail, and this remains exposed until the further movement of the frame actuates the releasing-rod R.

The relative time ot exposure of the stop and cautionary signals may be varied by adjusting the collar upon the standard o4 and rod R, as before described.

Some ofthe advantages oi` the described construction are as follows: By the employment of the water-tight i'ulcrum-box in the manner described the primary actuating parts are eiieetually protected from injury by freezing. By suspending the fulcrum-box from the rail the two may be rigidly fixed together, so that if the rail be moved by the action of frost or other cause its relative position to the fulcrum-box will be unchanged,and consequently no injury will result. By the employment of the dashpot for timing purposes a simple, reliable, and effective agent is obtained, which may be easily and instantly regulated to vary the time of exposing the signals, as may be desired. By means of the adjustable collars the time ot' exposing the stop and cautionary signals relatively to each other may be varied at will. By means ofthe spring below the face of standards o o the latter are permitted to yield in case of sudden shock, and thus prevent injury to the parts.

By the employment of a double signal-disk certain marked advantages are obtained, as follows: The size ot' the signal case or pillar may be reduced. The power, acting upon dnplicate mechanism, is balanced, as it were, so that no special strain is exerted to either side. lhe vertical motion necessary to expose the signals is much less than if an entire disk was employed, the double disk having only about one-half of the motion ol' an entire disk, other things heilig equal, and hence its movement is proportionately less sudden. A 'decrease ot' friction and increased durability of the parts consequently result from t-he construction de scribed.

The various mechanisms herein described may be used independently of each other, if

desired. For instance, the primary actuating mechanism may be used with other timing and signaling mechanism, and the timing mechanism with otherprimaryactuating mechanism and signaling mechanism, and the signaling mechanism with clock-work, if desired.

I do not. limit myselt` to the combination of' these various mechanisms.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 1atent,is

1. In combination with primaryactuatiug mechanism, substantially as described, operated by a passing train, land indicating mechanism to give the signals, a piston and dashpot, substantially as described, for determining the time that thesignals shall remain exposed.

2. The combination of the semicircular signal-disks with mechanism, substantially as described, for uniting them before the displayopening, for the purpose of exposing the signal and mechanism, substantially as described, for separating them for the purpose of throwing them back out of the line of vision, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the close fulcruiu-box, having the side opening, as described, and the bar B, adapted to protect the opening, as described.

4. In combination with a water-tightfulcrumbox, having a side opening, the plunger E, having the right-angledl arm e adapted to protrude through the opening, as described.

5. The combination of the vertically-moving frame g3, the casting I, the piston-rod Z, and piston l', with the dash-pot, substantially as described.

6. The combination ot' the vertically-moving frame g3, having band O and standards o 0, with the lever-block n, having pins u2, as described.

7. The combination of the vertically-moving frame, having standard o, with the releasinglever P and lever-blocks' a, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the lever-blocks n with the catch-bars g4 and signal-rods q, substantially as described.A

9. The combination of the catch-bars q, signal-rods q1, and releasing-rod R, as de scribed.

10. The combination of the catch-bars g4, signal-rods g1, and releasing-rod R with the vertically-moving frame g3, as described.

11. The combination ot' the releasing-rod R and its spring r3 with the catch-bar g4, as described.

12. The combination of the releasing-rod and the ear 1'5 of the frame with the catchbars g4, as described.

13. The combination of the pivoted stainlards o o with the intermediate spring o3, substantially as described.

14. In combination with the adjustable collar o5, connected to the verticali y-movin g frame g3 and adapted to actuate the releasing-lever P, the adjustable collar r2 upon the releasingrod R, adapted to determine the time of release of the catch-bars, by means ot' which the time of exposure of the two signals relative to each other may be determined,as described.

15. The combination of the catch-bars g4 and the springs q with the signal-arms q1, as described.

16. The combination of the releasing-lever P and its spring p2 with the catch-bars q, as described.

17. In combination with the sectional sigl vision; and, fourth, mechanism, substantially nals and the duplicatemeehanism for actnatas described, for controlling the descent of ing these signals, substantially as described, the weight.

the descending weight g3, as set forth. This specification signed and witnessed this 18. The combination of the following ele- 12th day of June, 1875.

ments: first, primar actuating mechanism for raising a Weight 5and displaying the sig- JOHN C' PAHJE nals; second, a descending weight; third, in- Witnesses:

dependent mechanism operated by the weigh-t WILLIAM F. WALKER,

for throwing the signals out of the line of HARLIN O. PAIGE. 

